Fan module

ABSTRACT

A fan module includes a fan, a supporting rack, and a number of fasteners. The fan includes two opposite plates. A number of mounting holes are defined in each plate. The supporting rack includes a base and two opposite sidewalls extending up from the base. The fan is accommodated among the base and the sidewalls. Each fastener is made of vibration-resistant material, and includes an engaging portion sandwiched between a corresponding plate of the fan and a corresponding sidewall, and a latching portion extending from the engaging portion and latched to the corresponding mounting hole of the fan.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan module.

2. Description of Related Art

A cooling fan of a computer is often mounted to a computer enclosure with screws, which can be inconvenient. During operation, the cooling fan may generate undesirable vibration, resulting in vibration noise. Such vibration can adversely affect other components in the enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a fan module, wherein the fan module includes eight fasteners.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, isometric view of one of the fasteners of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken along the line of IV-IV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a fan module 100 includes a supporting rack 20, a cooling fan 40, and eight fasteners 60 for fixing the cooling fan 40 to the supporting rack 20.

The supporting rack 20 is substantially U-shaped, and includes a rectangular base 22 and two sidewalls 24 perpendicularly extending up from opposite ends of the base 22. The base 22 and the sidewalls 24 cooperatively bound a receiving space 25. One of the sidewalls 24 defines a round air inlet 26, and the other sidewall 24 defines a round air outlet 27 aligning with the air inlet 26. Two spaced locating blocks 28 extend up from the base 22, adjacent to each sidewall 24, at opposite sides of the corresponding air inlet 26 and air outlet 27.

The cooling fan 40 includes a hollow frame 42 and an impeller 44. The frame 42 defines a cylindrical receiving hole 424 for receiving the impeller 44. The frame 42 includes two opposite plates 422. Each plate 422 defines four mounting holes 426 in four corners of the plate 422.

Referring to FIG. 2, the fasteners 60 are made of vibration-resistant material, such as rubber or foam. Each of the fasteners 60 includes a coin-shaped engaging portion 62, and a latching portion 64 perpendicularly extending out from a first side 624 of the engaging portion 62. A plurality of resilient engaging blocks 626 protrude out from a second side 622 of the engaging portion 62 opposite to the first side 624, adjacent to the circumference of the engaging portion 62.

The latching portion 64 includes a cylindrical connecting pole 642 extending out from a center of the first side 624, and a resilient tapered latching block 644 extending out from a distal end of the connecting pole 642 opposite to the engaging portion 62. A diameter of the connecting pole 642 is a little less than a diameter of the mounting hole 426 of the cooling fan 40. A diameter of a large portion of the latching block 644 adjacent to the connecting pole 642 is larger than the diameter of the mounting hole 426. While a diameter of a small portion of the latching block 644 away from the connecting pole 642 is less than diameter of the mounting hole 426. A split 646 is defined the latching block 644 along an axis direction of the latching block 644, allowing the latching block 644 to be easily deformed. The split 646 extends through opposite sides of the circumference of the latching block 644, but does not extend through a distal end at the small portion of the latching block 644. An end of the spilt 646 slightly extends into the connecting pole 642.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the latching portion 64 of each fastener 60 is inserted into the corresponding mounting hole 426, from an outside surface of the corresponding plate 422. The latching block 644 slidably abuts against an inner wall bounding the mounting hole 426, deforming the latching block 644, until the latching block 644 passes through the mounting hole 426. The latching block 644 is restored to be blocked by an inside surface of the plate 422. The first side 624 of the fastener 60 abuts against the outside surface of the plate 422. A part of the engaging portion 62 protrudes out of an edge of the corresponding plate 422.

The cooling fan 40 together with the fasteners 60 is inserted into the receiving space 25. The engaging blocks 626 move down on the inner surface of a corresponding sidewall 24 to deform the engaging portion 62, until the engaging portions 62 adjacent to the bottom of the cooling fan 40 are supported on the base 22. The engaging portion 62 adjacent to the bottom of each plate 422 abuts against an inner surface of a corresponding locating block 28. Therefore, the cooling fan 40 is securely engaged in the supporting rack 20. The impeller 44 aligns with the air inlet 26 and the air outlet 27.

The cooling fan 40 separates from the supporting rack 20 with the fasteners 60, avoiding interference between the cooling fan 40 and the supporting rack 20. The fasteners 60 adjacent to the top of the cooling fan 40 protrude out of the tops of the corresponding sidewalls 24, avoiding interference between the cooling fan 40 and other elements, such as a motherboard or hard disk drives.

In disassembly, the cooling fan 40 is pulled out from the supporting rack 20. The fasteners 60 are disengaged from the sidewall 24. Therefore, the cooling fan 40 may be easily separated from the supporting rack 20.

During operation, the fasteners 60 can absorb the energy of vibrations generated by the cooling fan 40.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan module comprising: a supporting rack comprising a base and two sidewalls extending up from opposite ends of the base; a fan received in the supporting rack, and comprising two opposite plates each defining a plurality of mounting holes; and a plurality of fasteners made of vibration-resistant material, each fastener comprising an engaging portion, and a latching portion extending from a first side of the engaging portion and fixed in a corresponding one of the mounting holes of the fan, wherein the first side of the engaging portion abuts against a corresponding one of the two plates of the fan, and a second side of the engaging portion opposite to the first side abuts against an inner surface of a corresponding one of the two sidewalls of the supporting rack.
 2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein bottoms of the engaging portions of the fasteners adjacent to a bottom of the fan protrude out of the bottom of the fan and are supported on the base of the supporting rack.
 3. The fan module of claim 1, wherein a plurality of resilient engaging blocks protrudes out from the second side of the engaging portion of each fastener and abuts against the corresponding sidewall.
 4. The fan module of claim 1, wherein tops of the engaging portions of the fasteners adjacent to a top of the fan protrudes out of the top of the sidewalls.
 5. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the latching portion of each fastener comprises a connecting pole extending out from a center of the first side of the engaging portion, and a tapered latching block extending out from a distal end of the connecting pole opposite to the engaging portion, the latching block passes through the corresponding mounting hole of the fan to be blocked by an inner side of the plate of the fan.
 6. The fan module of claim 5, wherein the latching block defines a split along an axis direction of the latching block, allowing conveniently deform the latching block to make the latching block pass through the corresponding mounting hole of the fan.
 7. The fan module of claim 1, wherein one of the two sidewalls defines an air inlet aligning with the fan, and the other sidewall defines an air outlet aligning with the fan.
 8. The fan module of claim 1, wherein two spaced locating blocks extend up from the base, adjacent to each sidewall and at opposite sides of a corresponding one of the air inlet and the air outlet, the engaging portions of the fasteners adjacent to a bottom of the fan respectively abut against an inner surface of a corresponding one of the locating blocks. 